Grants at SEF

SEF Grantmaking Guidelines

SEF awards grants to enrich student learning, enhance instructional programs and learning tools, encourage professional development, and promote the standard of excellence at Skaneateles Central Schools. Fulfilling all the objectives to receive an award is not required; applications that impact a substantial number of giving targets are more likely to receive a favorable outcome.  Grants for student projects will receive favorable consideration when they promote, expand, or enrich student opportunities in a manner consistent with the Foundation's mission.  

 

Grant objectives include: 

• Serve as an opportunity for enrichment that cannot be funded through a normal school budget

• Demonstrate innovative approaches or methodologies 

• Are consistent with the Skaneateles Central Schools curriculum and NYS Department of Education standards

• Serve as an effective pilot for possible future programs

• Include a method of assessing the project's effectiveness

• Offer the possibility of continued impact for multiple years

• Encourage and facilitate student and other educator feedback

• Offer expanded opportunities for application in other curricula and use by other educators

• Anticipate, encourage, or reflect expanded use of technology

• Encourage partnerships with other funding sources

• Impact as many students as possible

 

Funding Limitations:

• Faculty/staff salaries and benefits

• Support of sports teams and equipment

• General capital improvements

• Building and grounds operations and maintenance

• Ongoing transportation expenses

• Routine purchases of equipment and supplies

• Administrative and clerical support

• Support of current curriculum, programs, and projects

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SEF grant applications are emailed to the Executive Director where the application is reviewed for completeness.  The proposal is then forwarded to the Board's Programs & Grants Committee for consideration.  The committee may return an application for additional information or clarification, reject it, or forward it to the full SEF Board for final approval.  On approval, the SEF Executive Director will formally notify the applicants, school administrators, and appropriate District staff via email.  The notification packet contains a grant agreement and a post-grant evaluation form.  A check will then be delivered to the District offices and grantees may access funds through the appropriate processes in their building.  

 

Applications for the Jean Graham Fund grants will be reviewed by the members of the Jean Graham Committee and approved disbursements will be given directly to awardees.  All awardees are expected to complete a post-grant evaluation as outlined in the application process. 

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The Grant Process

 

Who Can Apply:

 

Administrators, teachers, teacher's aides, student support staff, and students of the Skaneateles Central School District may apply for grants from SEF.   Please note that some grants have specific requirements concerning elegibility.

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What Grants and Funds Are Available:

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• Lightning Grant

  • Grants up to $1,500; teachers, students, administrators may apply; submit year-round

• Teacher Innovation Grant

  • Grants greater than $1,500; teachers, administrators, and student support staff may apply; submit year-round

• Jean Graham Fund Summer Sabbatical Grant

  • Educators may apply; deadline TBD

• Jean Graham Fund Summer Passport Grant

  • Educators may apply; deadline TBD

• Experiential Learning Fund

  • Up to $800 per grade level; grade level teams and administrators may apply; submit year-round

• Dr. John T. Freedman Fund

  • The SEF allocates monies from the Freedman fund to Lightning or Teacher Innovation Grants that meet the fund's giving guidelines.  Please see the Freedman Fund page for more details. 

• Class of '51 Fund

  • Funds for students with financial hardships.  The District's Coordinator of Student Support Services & Family Engagement manages the allocations for these funds from a yearly disbursement.

• Music Guild​

  • ​Grants for the support and advancement of music education in the Skaneateles School District; educators and students may apply; submit year-round​

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SEF provides one scholarship, the iDTech Summer Technology Camp Scholarship.  To learn more about the application process, elegibility, and deadlines, please visit the iDTech Scholarship page.

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When to Apply:

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Lightning Grants, Teacher Innovation Grants (TIG), Experiential Learning Fund Grants (ELF), Music Guild Grants, and Class of '51 Fund grants may be submitted at any time during the school year. Application dates for the Jean Graham Fund Summer Sabbatical and the Summer Passport are determined at the beginning of the school year and usually happen in May.

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How to Apply:

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​​Please download electronic grant applications from the appropriate grants page.  All applicants should carefully review the giving guidelines and preparation instructions in the forms.  Before emailing the completed application to skip@skanedfoundation.org, please make sure to have all required signatures and approvals. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact SEF's Executive Director, Skip Lockwood, to assist with grant prep, answer questions, and to discuss ideas.  He may be reached at skip@skanedfoundation or via phone at 315-291-2212.